CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Oleander Point Park could soon be getting a memorial garden to remember victims of crimes.
It’s long been in the planning stages before finally getting the approval today.
City council this afternoon gave preliminary approval to start work on a large memorial garden here.
It will be 50 by 50 feet wide. But for crime victims and their families, it's impact could be huge.
The memorial garden would provide a place to remember victims of crimes in Nueces County.
Whether it's homicide, domestic violence or getting hit by a drunk driver, victims' names will be seen on these dozens of plaques.
“it's important,” said Fallon Wood of the Nueces County Victims’ Memorial Garden. “I don’t want no victim to ever be forgotten."
More than a year ago, the Nueces County Victims’ Memorial Garden non-profit organization came up with the idea to build and donate the $60,000 garden to the city.
The group will be in charge of maintaining and cleaning this one-of-a-kind "garden of peace" in Corpus Christi.
"We need a place other than a cemetery for loved ones to go visit,” Wood said. “Somewhere where it's peaceful and beautiful."
Fallon Wood, the mother of Breanna Wood, is part of the group leading the effort.
Her 21-year-old daughter disappeared in late 2016.
Her body was found in January 2017.
And with with granite monuments, walkways and benches, this memorial garden will be a place for friends and family like Wood, to mourn crime victims who have lost their lives.
It would be a place where Sally Rowsey could come and remember her son.
He was murdered in November 20-16.
“It's nice to know not only his family, but his friends can go and be there to talk to him and share their stories with them," Rowsey said.
Members of the non-profit mentioned the garden should be completed within nine months.
About two dozen plaques are ready to be placed here, but there's room for many more.
